The war in Iran, unleashed by Israel and the United States, is not only causing a trail of bloodshed, deaths and injuries, which will eventually number several thousand. It is also an environmental disaster, caused primarily by the relentless bombing of fuel depots and refineries in the Tehran area. The fires have produced toxic clouds, which in turn have already caused serious respiratory problems among the population and have dramatically increased the risk of cancer throughout the region.
Then there are other phenomena that were part of this systemic environmental disaster scenario.
The black rain
The so-called "black rain" that has blackened the Iranian skies since the start of the war is nothing more than a hydrocarbon-laden storm with a series of contaminated and poisonous precipitations. The rainwater appears dark and leaves behind toxic residues of oil, sulfur oxides, and other compounds that have covered much of the surface of Tehran.
This rain may contain:
- fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (some carcinogens)
- heavy metals
- combustion residues
Water and soil contamination
The attacks damaged civilian and industrial infrastructure:
- water main breaks and water outages
- possible infiltration of toxic substances into the groundwater
Experts warn that pollutants can:
- settle in the ground
- enter the food chain
- have long-term effects on health
Destruction of ecosystems
The war also damaged:
- natural habitats
- biodiversity
- land and marine areas (especially in the Persian Gulf).
Cover photo from www.vaticannews.va
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